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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pitcher · file · perch · branch · calf · bear · plane · ground

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. file — a tool
  7. ground — a position
  8. ground — the earth
  9. perch — the fish
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. plane — a tool
  15. branch — a division
  16. file — a document
  17. ground — crushed
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. file — a line of people
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — the animal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com